Village Studios owner Hins with 60 piece orchestra in 3000 sq. ft. Live Room
Guangzhou, China (January 26, 2012)—Walters-Storyk Design Group recently designed Village Studios; located one hour by train from Hong Kong, the facility is said to be China’s first destination-style recording studio.
Village Studios was conceived by international pop artist Hins Cheung and is the result of three years’ worth of development and construction. The project’s efforts were initially led by WSDG principal John Storyk, and required analysis and auralization developed by WSDG’s European and Brazil branches. Based around an interior design developed by WSDG partner, Beth Walters, the 12,400 sq. ft. ground up building is distinguished by a 3,000 sq. ft. live room, with an 18 ft. high ceiling. Village Studios features two autonomous 800 sq. ft. control rooms, each with 640, and 230 sq. ft. ISO booths. Hins’ manager, Bella Fan reports that his affinity for vintage gear, inspired Studio A to be outfitted with an SSL9080K console, while Studio B features a classic Neve VR72 and 8068.
Complex site lines between the orchestra sized live and dual control rooms, coupled with the double height ceiling and, the higher than average reverb time typically associated with China’s idiosyncratic music style, presented design challenges. To resolve these issues, WSDG engaged a number of solutions including custom curtains and multi-format diffusion panels. WSDG also provided detailed construction documents, project construction administration and final studio commissioning/tuning for the complex. “To bring a project of this size and sophistication to reality on the other side of the world was a formidable challenge,” John Storyk remarked. “It was an honor to work with Hins and his team.”
The complex includes a 520 sq. ft. orchestra lounge with 18’ high ceiling, multiple smaller lounges, kitchen and offices. “This project was an extremely ambitious undertaking,” Beth Walters says. “China is expanding its international presence in virtually every area of art and industry. Village Studios sends a clear message that a new ‘destination recording studio’ has arrived.”
“John Storyk made his initial visit to the site in early 2009,” reports Project Manager Joshua Morris. “We began preliminary design work soon after he returned. Our US -based senior PM, Romina Larregina led the team that developed all designs and documentation. She also coordinated building permits and other pre-construction details with the local architect, engineering and construction teams. I completed the design and construction documents and made my first site visit in September 2009,” Morris said.
While reviewing on site work, discussing technical issues and inspecting acoustic treatments and building materials, Morris was pleased to find a high level of construction and technical expertise among the local Chinese contractors, and technicians. “It is safe to say that this level of acoustic detail was a challenge for the construction team in China—a challenge that was successfully met. Wherever possible, local materials were used, although studio specialty items such as room isolation devices and acoustic doors were either directly imported or licensed for Europe and the USA,” Morris adds.”
As plans called for substantial A/V interconnectivity between the live and twin control rooms as well as numerous recording sites throughout the complex, systems integration and isolation were primary concerns. Hins’ team, along with WSDG systems design engineers, Judy Elliot-Brown and Caroline Feldmeier, held extensive online dialogues with their China-based colleagues. Further on in the project, Hins requested that Brown visit the site for a full review of the wiring program and to have her lead the installation of the final a/v conduit and raceway system.
Today, the facility sports gear and software from Avid, Lynx Aurora, Studer, Prisim Sound, Apogee, Lexicon, TC Electronic, Eventide, Mercury, GML Manley, Fairchild, API, Empirical, Crane Song, and a full complement of classic mics, including AEA, Beyer, Neumann, Royer, Telefunken, Song C800G, DPA, Schoeps and Shure. The studio also features two Hammond B3 organs and six Fender Rhodes electric piano models. Mains monitors in the SSL Control Room are custom 15” Augspurgers. The Neve Control Room features 15” Dynaudio Acoustics custom Munro M6 mains. The technology package was coordinated by WSDG, in conjunction with US-based Professional Audio Design.
“It is interesting to note that neither distance nor language presented insurmountable barriers to our collaboration. We see Village Studios as a triumph of professionalism. Hins has already recorded sessions with a full 60-piece symphonic orchestra. His business plan is to make the studio available to both Chinese artists and an international client base,” John Storyk concludes, “We are proud of this truly international design effort and confident that China’s newest world-class studio will be a true asset to that country’s entertainment industry.”
WSDG – Acoustics and Audio/Video Design Firm
www.wsdg.com
